"He seemed porous and keen on taking it all in--as opposed to dishing it out." Yes, I think you nailed it.
I read an interview with Gray recently in which he talked about how manhattan was the only place he knew so well that he could walk around without worrying where he was or what his destination was, just sensing, reacting and associating with and on the people things and locations he encountered.
A "flaneur"-- someone who walks aimlessly through the city as though it's a room in someone's home.
All this talk about walking (bunny and now jim’s last post) has reminded me of a book I read a long time ago and loved. It is driving me crazy that I can't think of the title, find it on my bookshelves, nor find it online... So instead of, or in addition to, letting me make it crazy I am throwing it out to you all to see if it might ring a bell and if you can help me:
It is a book about a man who constantly walks, told from the perspective of a boy that lives in the same town. The boy becomes fascinated by where the man might be going and starts to follow him and then, eventually, walking side by side with him. The man is married but can't stay indoors for very long and is walking at all times of day and night, and all seasons. He is claustrophobic, although it never says so so directly. He ends up (can I tell you the ending?) walking into the lake and not coming back up. If this might trigger a memory, I am pretty sure there are a few illustrations in the edition I had (it is not a children’s book) by William Steig. I sure would appreciate someone helping me put an end to this “it’s on the tip of my tongue” dilemma..?
|
I read an interview with Gray recently in which he talked about how manhattan was the only place he knew so well that he could walk around without worrying where he was or what his destination was, just sensing, reacting and associating with and on the people things and locations he encountered.
A "flaneur"-- someone who walks aimlessly through the city as though it's a room in someone's home.
- bunny 3-11-2004 1:43 am
All this talk about walking (bunny and now jim’s last post) has reminded me of a book I read a long time ago and loved. It is driving me crazy that I can't think of the title, find it on my bookshelves, nor find it online... So instead of, or in addition to, letting me make it crazy I am throwing it out to you all to see if it might ring a bell and if you can help me:
It is a book about a man who constantly walks, told from the perspective of a boy that lives in the same town. The boy becomes fascinated by where the man might be going and starts to follow him and then, eventually, walking side by side with him. The man is married but can't stay indoors for very long and is walking at all times of day and night, and all seasons. He is claustrophobic, although it never says so so directly. He ends up (can I tell you the ending?) walking into the lake and not coming back up. If this might trigger a memory, I am pretty sure there are a few illustrations in the edition I had (it is not a children’s book) by William Steig. I sure would appreciate someone helping me put an end to this “it’s on the tip of my tongue” dilemma..?
- selma 3-12-2004 10:02 pm [add a comment]